R.177 (Widow: Ruth)
Declaration.
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th of July 1838 entitled “An act granting half pay & pension to certain widows” or act of 4th July 1836 if my husband services are found after my marriage.
State of New York
Columbia County SS.
On this 12th day of November 1845 personally appeared before the subscriber one of the Justices of the Justices Court of the City of Hudson in said County (the same being a Court of Record) Ruth Ames a resident of the town of Chatham in said County (the same being a court of record) Ruth Ames a resident of the town of Chatham in said County of Columbia aged eighty four years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7, 1838 entitled “An act granting half pay & pensions to certain widows”. That she is the widow of Levi Ames who was a private in the Army of the Revolution & served in Hezekiah Baldwin’s Company in 1775 & 1776 , and went to Canada & served from august to about the first day of June 1776 & according to her best recollection about 10 months or more. I do not know of any one now living who served in that company with him & I have heard that his brother Asabel Ames was with him and I have heard Joseph Wilbur late a pensioner in this county say he was with him—they are dead.
I was married to the said Levi Ames by the Rev’d Mr. Clarke then a minister at the Village of Spencertown now in the town of Asuterlitz in this county the 8th day of May sometime about the year 1777 or 1778. I was about 16 years old when married.
I was married about 3 years before I had my first child Elizabeth Rouse, she was a babe when my husband went on tour in 1781.
I have no record of the age, of my children nor have I any record of the marriage aforesaid with said Levi Ames.
My oldest child was a daughter & is the wife of Harmon H. Rouse, her name is Elizabeth, she is still living in this town.
My husband said Levi Ames served also as follows according to my present recollection, but I am informed that no record of this service can be found.
I remember that he enlisted for one tour of nine months, but did not serve the whole of this tour as he was taken sick & he as I was informed hired a substitute whose name was Elijah Backman or Parkman. This was in the year I cannot recollect the year and I think he was absent about 5 or 6 months. This was the year after my first child was born. The substitute was Elisha Parker—who served a short time for my husband.
The substitute was Elisha Parker & not Elijah Backman or Parkman as above written. My husband also performed some short tours with the militia after I married him. And if these tours are found I then claim a pension under 3d section of Act of 1836. Ruth Foot my 3d child is dead & is buried & have a great stone erected at jer grave which has her age on it. (signed with her mark) Ruth Ames
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 12th November 1845. Richard Carrique, Justice of the Peace.

[Ruth Ames tried over and over to get her husband’s pension. She gave many depositions but the people she produced didn’t remember him serving the times she stated and the muster rolls did not support her claim. After he death Elizabeth also tried, but was denied.]